Thursday, August 26, 2010

A couple of weeks ago my grandparents (on my mothers side) celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss. To commemorate the occasion we threw a 60th wedding anniversary bash! With family- close and distant, friends- new and old, and church family...there were around 100 guests.

My sister flew in, my cousins I have not seen in years were there and of course... my stunning Grandparents. They are a sight to behold... what with Papaw's shinny spat-like shoes (the Captain was a bit jealous) and Mamaw's affinity for 4 inch heels, I do suppose the Captain and I have a lot to live up to! ( I mean, goodness, our shoes didn't even compare!)

Harry and Lola, AKA: Mamaw and Papaw, are a wonderful example of Christian marriage. 60 years, 1 lifelong Marine Corp career, 2 kids, 6 grand kids and 2 great grand kids (2 more on the way) and they love each other like crazy! They cannot get enough of Rigg, but really, who can? He seems to be taking to all the extra attention with much grace, and um, humility... he certainly doesn't laugh up a storm and then clap for himself at any small thing... not my son...

All that good food, and all he wants is his goldfish!

The part of the photo board with our family pictures...Sweet Caden was awed over and missed by many.

A belly pic...because I know you really want to see...please ignore the cake, we all know I do not really eat such things as cake, only apples, bananas and whole wheat goodness...

My Sister and I are both expecting... about 7 weeks apart. Here we are belly to belly...or baby to baby. (again... ignore the cake, really, it is not even there....)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The other night the Captain and I were burning brain cells together while watching the movie Gladiator. It is one of the Captain's all-time favorite movies. I think it is a guy thing... but I do enjoy it as well. It has many great messages. Standing up for what you believe in. Never giving up. Doing your best. Facing adversity. Courage, bravery, hope, moral fiber... and my favorite... finishing your life well.

As we were watching I was sort of zoning out... it was the second time it was on in as many days... so I figured it was OK if I mentally skipped a few frames here and there.

Then came the end...

a part we neglected to catch the day before (we really do have lives... I promise) and I do love the end.

I tried to remember, later, after the movie was over... when the last time was that I watched Gladiator... it must have been a couple of years ago. I say this because I am sure I have never been affected by this movie so strongly as I did the other night. As Maximus is dying, he catches glimpses of his home, and then finally as the end comes in full, he sees his family, (who were murdered previously in the movie) running towards him to welcome him home.

Well, needless to say, I was a mess of tears. I sniffed and snuffed and wiped my nose and eyes on my sleeve (which I would never do out in public...). I took a shaky breath and said to Andy...

Caden is going to run to us like that.

I looked up and through blurry eyes I saw he was crying too. Obviously thinking the same thing.

Our baby girl will welcome us Home one day...until then we will strive to accomplish what God has for us here, and hopefully, finish well.

I wanted to post the video here so you could see it yourself...but it would not let me embed it....So I will just attach a link.Gladiator Ending... Going Home.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Monday, August 23, 2010

The Captain got an email from his lawyer Saturday night. It stated that he had received the video from the pharmacy and that it is CLEARLYNOT Andy!!! (Which, ahem,we already knew...but it is nice to have some tangible proof...for the others who might doubt...you understand...)

PRAISE JESUS!!!!

So, where does that leave us, you ask? The case has still not been dropped... that might take awhile. Our lawyer is requesting a meeting with the prosecution so they can all review the tape together and he can prove his client... my husband... the wonderful Captain....is innocent. We have no idea when that will be, if we have learned anything in this mess, it is that the wheels of the government move slowly.

I cannot thank you enough for all of your prayers for us. Please continue to pray that this is cleared up quickly (wink) and that the Captain's good name can shine freely again!

(If you have no idea in the world what I am talking about... you can catch up here and here.)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Praise God with us, dear friends, for blessing us with a healthy and beautiful baby boy. We are so thankful to this addition to our family and cannot wait to see his face and hold him close. Seeing him today brought us such joy and excitement. We are thrilled Rigg gets a brother and we, well we, get a SON!

We might have just "met" our son today, but we know that God knew all along "who" Ryder was and "who" Ryder is going to be...Praise and Honor and Glory to Him who deserves nothing less then our all!

Monday, August 16, 2010

So I see many of you think baby #3 might be a girl... I wonder...is this wishful thinking? Are you wanting us to have a girl, or did you get some killer gut instinct when prompted to vote? Or are you just siding with the Captain?

Did you see how many days are left to vote? 3! That is also how many days are left until the ultrasound... and hopefully we can find out if we are having a girl baby or a boy baby...( I am clarifying baby because I think my dad is still holding out for a monkey!) I had multiple dreams on Saturday night about the ultrasound. Half the time it was a girl, half the time it was a boy... Even my dreams have no idea...

I started thinking we were having a boy as a defense mechanism... I know the Captain and I would like to have another girl, and I just pictured us getting all worked up for the pink and ruffles, just to be let down when they said it was a boy... and it made me sad for the baby boy... So I just started to tell myself I was having a boy... and it totally worked! I am now equally as excited to hear girl or boy!

Not only do we have a name for whichever it is, I have scoped out bedding sets and nursery ideas and have a starter plan for both! Are you getting that I am a planner and love to have a direction? I know, I am that insane pregnant lady who stands at the wall of pacifiers for a solid half an hour just trying to decide if her new baby would look best with a blue and green spoofer or if the red one would be best... CRAZY! ( and we all know I am a paci/outfit matcher... so I would end up buying both anyway...)

I am just SO excited for Thursday I cannot stand it!!!! I promise a full disclosure of info - gender, name, health, heartbeat- as soon as possible on Thursday...

YEAH!!! WHOO HOO!

Moving topics: the Big Rigg is up and walking! He took his "first" step 2 weeks ago and is now officially walking! It really did not take him long. Once he figured out that he could get our undivided attention and we would cheer for him.... he was all over it! He looks like such a big boy!

He has been so much fun lately, learning new things daily! His personality is just bursting forth and he is becoming much more verbal... still not speaking English, but man, does the kid like to talk... in whatever language he speaks!

I will leave you with a video, it is just a typical evening at home, but it makes me smile and laugh everytime I watch it!remember to pause the music at the bottom of the screen to hear the video!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Feelin' good now that the second trimester has single handedly vanquished my icky feelings in the evenings.

The Captain and I are super stoked about this new little life. We chat about what the baby will look like, what its personality will be... if I will ever get a child that looks like me....

We also tease each other about who is right... we have a gender war raging in the Chastain home. I think boy... the Captain is set on girl.
We already have names picked out... so it matters not who is right, we still have a name.
The great news is we only have to wait until the19th to find out. That is when our ultrasound is scheduled! After we find out if it be a boy or if it be a girl... I will gladly share the name.

Until then I want your opinion... so cast your vote. I have a poll over to the side under our profile...let me know what you think...or what you hope for! Either way... you won't have to wait long!!!

who we claim to be

Hey all,If you do not know us, the first thing you should know is how much we love the Lord our God, and we are striving to live lives worthy of the title, Believer.
The second is we are praying everyday for His return. On that day we will be reunited with our precious baby girl Caden, the treasure of our hearts. Since the death of our daughter we have battled grief, hurt, tears in public, brain surgery and chemo. We have also celebrated new life in the birth of our 2 sons. So come, read, share and enjoy the life God has given us. Although it is not perfect, or even what we had planned it is what He wants for us, so we choose to rejoice.

start here!!!

The Captain and Cari

Our Joy, Caden Joelle.

"Michael said Caden's funeral felt like a wedding. I smile to type that, because in many ways, it was: a celebration of one little bride being united with the Lamb."

~Katherine Kramer~

our big Rigg

Ryder

things that make me laugh

I came back into the room from treating myself to a nice, cold diet coke when I saw the Captain playing with Rigg. He was making the stuffed animal dance in the air toward our son and saying in a sing-song voice “Here comes the zebra.” I looked at him and said in the exact same sing-song voice “It’s a giraffe.” To which the Captain, with only the briefest pauses, sing-songed back the reply… “Daddy had brain surgery.“